Universal ratchet wrench



' April 25, 1933. J D M 1,905,388

UNIVERSAL RATCHET WRENCH Filed March 31, 1931 INVENTOR. Juosolv 0. LAMB.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 25, 1933 {UNITED A ES aunsonia, LAMB, on Bravo, mum

UN ER BM E WR N H Appiication f led March s1," 1es1. ise; ia1 n}. 526;7204

The present invention relates to improvements in universal ratchet wrenches, and it cons sts 1n the COIIibIIlMSlOIIS, constructions T and-arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a ratchet Wrench having-the rotatable mem-' ber thereof universally mounted in the opcrating handle so as to'present a Wrench '10 having the advantages of an ordinary ratchet wrench, and in addition, an increased range of usefulness due to the universal feature. The wrench may be used to advantage in many places whereobstructions preular function which it is toserve;

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel p I c 7 portion ofa sphere; and perforatedat 18 so "asgto. iemovably receive a shank 19 of conventional design; This shank has a socket 20 7 attached thereto, and preferably secured in position bymeans ofa spring pressed ball'21. The socket and shank arefree to'sw'ing into features will be particularly pointed out in F the claims hereto annexed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a wrench coni structed in accordance with my invention; 7

Figure 2 is a side view thereof; 7

Figure 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a development of a portion of i the device; and

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In carrying my invention into practice, I

provide a universal ratchet wrench indicated 4 generally at 1, and comprising a body portion 2 having a head 2 rotatably and universally mounted therein, and ratchet means indicated at 3 operatively connected with the head.

1 Referring now to Figure 1, it will be noted ulated, and readily prepared for the particreadily accessible V :-'The head'2 is formediwith slots 29in the sections .8 and 9.

that thebody is fashioned from-a suitable material with an arc-shaped end land merging into converginglsides 5, which later'iterminate in an operating handle 6. The head 2vis disposed in an opening Bthatisi formed inthe'body portion; I A casing 7 encloses a-portion ofthebody,

and preferably consists of two substantially identical-sections 8 and 9, which are 'abutted against the faceslO and :11 respectively, and 6 have their edges provided with dove-tailing fingers 12. The tapering sides of the body prevent thefcasing fromimoving relative to the body These fingers are spaced by cut-awayv portions 14 insuch a manner 165 that the fingers'of one section register with the cutaway portions of the other section for forming the complete'housing. 7 4 The head 2 "s revolvably'mounted in the casing 7-,; and is held -therein. by curved flanges '15, the latter being"airanged alongfthe marginaliedges '16 of openings vli -formed in the sections Si-and :Theacasing may also be formed of material that is: crimped,;pressed,

welded, spot welded, riveted, bolted,v etc., 5210- cording=to-the methodof manufacture selected; 3'

f In Figure '12, l-show the head 2" as beinga various vangul'ar 5 positions x relative to the p the work. is not i alternating meridian like ribs 22 and. grooves"=23 which 1- are engaged byfla roller 24 that in turn is mounted in a recess 25' extending inwardly of the opening in'the .body 2, see Figure 1. -A}lspring; =26 has one end thereofbearing against the wall 27 of therecess, and its opposite end abutting against theiroller 24 for urging the latter into engagement with the grooves in'the head 2. Trunnions 28, pro jectj fromrthe roller ofthezratchetinto guide PATENT FF C v 'j 2 I i a 1,905

It should be particularly noted that the slots extend at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 6, and that roller 24 recedes from engagement with the grooves in the head 2 on movement of the handle 6 in a clockwise direction with reference to Figure 1. Spring-26 yields :so as to permit this movement of the roller, and the spring immediately becomes active for preventing the handle from turning in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the head 2;

Referring now to Figures 1, and 3, it will be noted that the bottom of the recess is pro-" vided with stepped ledges-25" and26',randt that these steps are transversely curved so as tolconform to the shape of the roller. The roller contacts with the head 2 .andis supported by the bottom of the recess 25 throughout the entire length ofthe roller. 7 V

The normal action of the 'wrench' is for. the roller to engage a groove in thehead 2 and become locked between :the head and the bottom of the recess 25 with the roller arranged on the ledgez25. When-the handle 6 diametrically opposed openings, a ballshaped member having a non-circular socket and being receivable in the bearing for rotation in any direction, said ball having meridian grooves of the same width throughout, and a roller having a concave surface with a curvature similar to the curvature of the ball groove, and spring means for guiding the roller into binding engagement with the ball. 2. A universal socket wrench comprising a body-having ahead made from two similar pieces, each piece having wedge-shaped portionsfinterlocking with similar portions on the otherpiece, eachpiece also having a central opening with spherical-shaped portions constituting a bearing Lfora ball, and-,a'ball received in the sphericahshaped portions and having a non-circular socket.

. JUDSON .ID.ILAMB.

is turned'in aelockwise direction in Figure 1,

the roller moves toward the step :26, and one of the ribs 22 engages with :the roller surface. The slots 29 are slightly wider than the diameter of the trunnions 28, and this 7 allows the rollerto be positioned on theledge Y 26'. The flanged ends :30 of. the roller bear against the. inner surfaces of the casing,

though with no Weight or strain when the y wrench is in use.

Grooves'23 extend over thesurfaceof the 1 spherical-shaped head '2f', and this permits a the headitoswing into various angular positions, and'at the same time the rollertremains in engagement with the grooves.

From theforegoing description of the severalparts of the wrench,'the operation thereof may be readily understood. The wrench all of the advantages of'an ordinary ratchet wrench and in 'addition thereto, the head 2' is universally secured to the body proper. The strength of the wrench lies in the fact that the'pressure is distributed over a large area of the roller instead of being applied to the point of a pawl as in the wrenches of conventional design. Particular attention is adapted for use in confined places,- and has is called to the fact that thetrunnions 28 pres vent displacement and loss of the roller be turned until the opening is in registry with the roller while the shank 19 is removed. i While I' have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or r'modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 7 p 1. A universal socket wrenchcomprising a body having a spherical-shaped bearing with through the opening 18, if the head should 

